Conte is a tactical genius who can help Oscar retrieve his level.

Always thought Oscar was made for Italian football. Notice how many times he has scored against Juventus, Inter, Milan or even Italy’s NT. Right now, he is again thriving under an Italian coach who is imposing an Italian system (with a few modifications). I watched Chelsea’s last game and they looked very collective – not only when attacking but also when defending. Oscar often double-teamed, (or even triple) in more than one occasion in helping Chelsea regain possession. He worked his ass off all over the game and is imposing himself as an undisputed starter, in the beginning of this campaign.

Cesc entered as substitute last week and “resolved” the lack of creativity by providing two assists – which were apparently not enough for him to bench our brasileiro. Conte is someone who places the system, THEN picks the players. For him, the system is above everything. It’s not the amount of assists that the box to box CM role Oscar is playing, that matters the most – it is rather how hard he works, how well he is at pressing and regaining the ball in order to maintain balance in the shape of the team. For idealists like Conte who are very convinced by their tactical scheme, they are not ready to let go of their convictions at the first match where a plan B works. They are rather ready to give it time, and show patience (something that Brazilian coaches obviously could take a note or two, from).

It took Oscar an Italian coach to revive him – as he is a very smart and tactically capable player. Which invites me to raise a question mark, on whether this Oscar with the level he has shown in these first few games of the season, is good enough to guarantee himself a spot at Brazil’s National Team.

In the current options we have to operate in a 3-man midfield, I’d say Casemiro/Renato (either a destructor or a deep lying playmaker) behind Allan and Oscar seems the most reasonable choice. I don’t see Coutinho being as effective in a central position in such a shape. Oscar would bench him for the same reason he is now benching Cesc at Chelsea.

That said, I am not too convinced either that Coutinho’s best position on the left. As a matter of fact, I’m struggling to localize his best function on the field.

One last note about Oscar: I think it’s people’s expectations of him that led to all the criticism he is getting (besides his obvious sudden drop of form). But fans who don’t rate Oscar – at all – do this, mainly because in their mind they look to him as a pure attacking midfielder/10, and start comparing him to the likes of Kaká and drawing conclusions: he lacks pace, he can’t dribble his man, he doesn’t create enough clear-cut-chances for his teammates etc.

It’s this wrong way of thinking which makes some of us under-value Oscar’s quality, at times. If we looked to him as a box to box CM in the first place (and judged him as a player in a deeper role than a 10), then we would not criticize him for not making enough goals. Conte is a very smart coach and he understood Oscar’s style of play right from the beginning. He understood that it’s the expectations you throw on a player, that determine whether fans are eventually pleased or not with his performances.

The biggest proof on these words, is that Cesc made 2 assists coming on as a sub, while Oscar has in 3 games so far not contributed to any goal in any way. It’s a clear sign that Conte (excuse me for the term, but I want to send a strong message) doesn’t give a fuck about Oscar’s end product. He judges him on other characteristics which are fundamental for the system. A smart coach like Conte cares to have players who facilitate the overall progress of his tactical scheme, rather than players who get the spotlights for individual efforts and stats, but lead to an overall less balanced side.

That said, it’s important to have a player like Cesc on the bench, to throw him in the last 25 minutes against a deep-lying defensive block, when you are desperate for a goal. But if you compare Chelsea’s defense so far to their defense last season, the stats talk for themselves. It’s no secret that strong defenses can win tournaments – let alone if you add the flair of the likes of Hazard, Willian (who by the way had a brilliant game today) et al. We need to get over this mentality of rating a CM on how many goals he scored and how many dribbles he makes, or even sometimes on how many through balls he plays.

Just like the great Arrigo Sacchi said in a recent interview: “Brazilians emphasize on individuality rather on group-work. Football is a game of eleven. Individuality can win you a game or two, but when if you are too dependent on two players, then the whole team will succumb when they miss your next game. But if your team is built on a specific system, then the whole shape will not be affected even if you lose three or four starters.”

With these words, I ask whether we want to repeat the mistake of 2014 by building a team that plays for Neymar, or whether we care more to make Brazil less and less dependent on individuals, and more and more dependent on team-work. I know Chelsea is not exactly the most inspiring pick for several Brazil NT fans, but Conte does not represent Mourinho – he represents Italian football. He led Juventus to the league title for the first time since 2006. The guy is a tactical genius, who over-achieved with Italy in Euro 2016 (very unfortunate ending).

I’m not saying either that Brazil must play the Italian way. Brazil will always show flair and skills by nature, but Tite himself is inspired by the Italian school – as well as Carlo Ancelotti (who is by far his number one coaching reference).

FyI, Conte is the disciple of Arrigo Sacchi who revolutionized Italian football with jos AC Milan. He was known for attacking football and for eliminating specialists. He wanted his midfielders to be polyvalent – two-way players. Conte may not have replicated his same system, but at least he learned the importance of building a system itself, and sticking to it at the expense of individuals.

I hope that Tite, while using his 4-1-4-1 formation which was inspired after taking lessons from Ancelotti in 2013/2014, will eventually find a spot for Oscar in his lineup as he continues to slowly regain form. Personally, I have a feeling that Tite will at some point select Oscar and test him as a pure CM (not attacking midfielder, where Brazil fans always expect such player to dribble 3-4 and score from nothing).

A possibility would be something like that:

Allan, Renato Augusto, Oscar
Costa, Gabigol, Neymar.

I believe this would be one of the best front sixes Brazil could come up with: it contains balance AS WELL AS flair. If Italy don’t show enough flair, it’s because they have Pellè not Costa, Eder not Gabigol, and Giaccherini not Neymar. Overall, this side will still represent Brazilian football – but with a few modifications by eliminating specialists and concentrating on prioritizing team-work.

For in the end, disappointment comes after very high expectations from players – sometimes above their capacity. If in your head, Oscar will never be good unless he dribbles 3 players and scores – then nothing can make you ever rate him. But if you look to him and judge him on whether he makes the system improve or regress, then you would understand the tactical importance of Oscar.

Oscar is not necessarily an eye-catching player, if you’re a fan of individual skills. He doesn’t bring enough magical moments, so when he enters in the last 15 minutes it makes it even more complicated for him to offer something that the fans will remember.

In his good times under Scolari, Oscar always struck me as a player who reads the game very well. Most people preferred him to be a starter over Ronaldinho at that time, because when Ronaldinho is bad – he is really bad and damages the whole shape of the team. Whereas Oscar, even when he doesn’t do anything to make you jump from your seat – he still manages to not hurt the team’s balance (especially during that time, in between 2012 and 2014). In the first World Cup qualifier against Chile, he pissed me so much because he ruined 2 or 3 counter attacking chances that could have ended in the back of the net. It was this game that convinced me he should be dropped from the National Team until further notice.

In brief, he’s a very tactical player and that’s why Italian coaches like Allegri and Conte are so keen on him. If he retains the level he has been showing in the beginning of this campaign, then he would be welcomed back with Tite (another coach who is very appreciative of Italian tactics).